A Bubble by Geneviève Castrée

Artist and musician Geneviève Castrée's last work–an expression of love, meant to last longer than words

Near the end of her life, surrounded by the nature and calm of Anacortes, Washington, Geneviève Castrée drew one final gift for her two-year-old daughter, the stunning board book A Bubble. Leaving behind a last note for a young child is an incomprehensible task; Castrée responds with grace and subtlety. Using precise, exquisite drawings of herself and her daughter, changes in their daily routines are depicted as a greater story unfolds. Castrée and her daughter float from page to page, encased in a bubble that protects them from the outside world. A contemplation of love and loss, A Bubble is a lasting declaration, a final memory, a comfort for others experiencing grief, and a beautiful archive of one of the world’s most talented cartoonist’s final artistic achievements.

Known for her hauntingly beautiful music (Ô PAON, Woelv), engrossingly detailed album illustrations, and delicate, subtle comics, Castrée’s previous graphic novel, Susceptible, shows her rare ability to handle difficult personal material with intimacy and honesty. A Bubble acts as an extension of Castrée’s life story, and final chapter of a beautifully full existence. Castrée passed away in 2016 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Praise for A Bubble

[A Bubble] is beautiful... The art Castrée made is testimony: to the joys of growing older, and to the price.

Castrée’s delicate, detailed artwork, in warm, rich colors, reveals charming details of day-to-day life... Though the subject matter is tough, this thoughtfully written book, which ends on a hopeful note despite Castrée’s death in 2016, might be just right to share with little ones struggling to come to terms with a parent’s infirmity.

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It’s the most affecting... board book I can recall... Heartbreaking and beautiful.